The trade data collection process is highly structured and intricate, requiring careful planning and execution. The process is broken down into several stages, each with its own goals and objectives, to ensure that the data is accurate and reliable. 

Overview #

The first stage involves an official request for merchandise trade/services data from data providers, which is typically done twice a year. During this stage, data providers are asked to submit their trade data to the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), which is the central repository for all trade data.  

Once the data is received, processing involves several sub-steps, including data registration, pre-processing, and processing. Pre-processing involves transforming the data into a standard input format and preparing data reference decks. Processing involves normalization and harmonization processes, where the data is checked for consistency and compared to established standards. Quantity and weight estimation are also done to ensure the data is accurate and complete. Finally, the data is converted to other classifications as needed. 

Before publication, the data undergoes a rigorous review and validation process. It is checked for errors, reviewed for completeness, and validated for accuracy. Any errors or discrepancies are flagged and addressed before the data is published on the UN Comtrade platform. 

The publication and dissemination stage involves making the data available to users on the UN Comtrade platform, which provides access to a wealth of trade data that can be used for research, analysis, and decision-making. Managing user feedback is also an essential part of the process to ensure that the data remains relevant and useful. Overall, trade data processing and dissemination are comprehensive procedures that ensure the accuracy and reliability of trade data for users worldwide. 

See additional information about UN Comtrade collection and processing: https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/opendata/the–essential–role-of-un-s-comtrade-in-trade-data

Revision of data #

Data is continuously submitted by reporting countries and released in UN Comtrade. In some cases, countries submit revised data, which means that updated information has been made available for data that was submitted and released previously. For example, the merchandise data for Barbados for January 2025 was first released on April 4, 2025, and revised data for that same data period was published on June 4, 2025. In the UN Comtrade system, the revised data will replace the initial submission, as the system retains the most recent version.

For details on data availability and historical releases, please refer to the metadata page or API at https://comtradeplus.un.org/DataAvailability.

To read more about data availability, please also see: https://uncomtrade.org/docs/data-availability/